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Log Management · head to head

Kibana vs Datadog Logs

Kibana logo

Kibana

Log Management

Visualize Your Elasticsearch Data

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Datadog Logs logo

Datadog Logs

Log Management

Log Management and Analytics

From
$0.1/per GB ingested per month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kibana has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kibana requires Elasticsearch; it is a front end for data held there rather than a standalone analytics tool; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
  • They diverge on capability: Kibana covers Data visualization, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kibana and Datadog Logs actually diverge.

Attributes where Kibana and Datadog Logs differ
AttributeKibanaDatadog Logs
Starting priceFree$0.1/per GB ingested per month
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud)
Founded20112010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Log Management).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Kibana

  • Data visualization
  • Dashboard creation
  • Log discovery
  • Alerting

Only in Datadog Logs

  • Log ingestion
  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • Log-based metrics

Both cover

  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Kibana

  • Querying and visualising data held in Elasticsearchnot Datadog Logs
  • Dashboards over log and metric datanot Datadog Logs
  • Anomaly detection with machine learning jobsnot Datadog Logs
  • Geospatial analysis on indexed location datanot Datadog Logs
  • Alerting on query thresholdsnot Datadog Logs

Datadog Logs

  • Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Kibana
  • Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Kibana
  • Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Kibana
  • Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Kibana

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Kibana

  • Requires Elasticsearch; it is a front end for data held there rather than a standalone analytics tool
  • Self-managed means running and scaling the Elastic stack yourself
  • Cost is not Kibana's own; it follows whichever Elastic deployment sits underneath

Datadog Logs

  • Complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
  • Ingestion pricing of $0.10/GB can accumulate rapidly for high-volume logging environments

Pricing, plan by plan

Kibana

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Data visualization
    • Dashboard creation
    • Log discovery

Datadog Logs

$0.1/per GB ingested per month

No published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Kibana if

  • You need data visualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want dashboard creation.
Kibana review

Choose Datadog Logs if

  • You need log ingestion.
  • You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
  • You also want full-text search.
Datadog Logs review

Questions people ask

Is Kibana or Datadog Logs better?
Neither clearly leads. Kibana starts at Free and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kibana or Datadog Logs?
Kibana has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kibana and $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs.
Does Kibana or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
Kibana runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
Can I use Kibana for free?
Yes. Kibana has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
What is Kibana best used for?
Kibana is most often used for querying and visualising data held in elasticsearch, dashboards over log and metric data, anomaly detection with machine learning jobs, geospatial analysis on indexed location data. Of those, querying and visualising data held in elasticsearch and dashboards over log and metric data are not what Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
What can Kibana do that Datadog Logs cannot?
Kibana covers Data visualization, Dashboard creation, Log discovery, Alerting. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
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